Miscellaneous Thoughts On Dentistry And Biotechnology

Monthly Archives: December 2016

Some dentistry proponents have in the past claimed that teeth whitening can be achieved via application of a concoction made up of fruits’ constituents and some baking soda. However, a research study from the Iowa University asserts the above conception is nothing but a mere notion. The conclusion was reached at after an analogical experiment involving the strawberry-baking soda remedy and over-the-counter whitening products.

The project proponents discovered that the all-natural formula was ineffective, though it proved quite useful in the removal of superficial debris. The other means were found to not only remove food components after meals, but further provide intense and longer lasting impacts.

The chemistry in the fruity mixture is to blame for its inefficiency as a teeth whitener. Strawberries lack the key hydrogen and carbamide peroxide compounds that are often added to tooth shade restoration products. Apples and lemons are also suggested alternatives, but they could also be limited as they lack the whitening components. The above undertaking is yet to experiment with these fruits.

Dental proponents from the London University have unveiled a new toothpaste component that restores vanished minerals from the tooth enamel during sleep, and is currently available from specialist dental distributor chains. It has also proved quite useful in preventing tooth decay and treatment sensitivity. The BioMinF ingredient provides a new tooth repair methodology that will bring relief to millions of persons across the globe who are being plagued by dental caries. In the UK alone, the ailing affects an estimated fourteen million persons.

Toothpastes with BioMinF have the capability of slowly disseminating calcium, phosphate and fluoride elements within an 8-12 hour timeframe. This compounds in turn form the fluorapatite mineral which strengthens, rebuilds and insulate the tooth structure. This slow release approach has come in handy for the prevention of tooth decay, specifically by making the teeth far more tolerant to attacks from acidic drinks such as sodas. Furthermore, it’s relatively effective/efficient when compared to the conventional toothpaste ingredients which become nullified in less than two hours after brushing.

As posted a while back, a buildup of excess plaque can lead to a whole array of problems, including tooth decay, gingivitis, and much more. While many are aware of the consequences of neglecting the basics of oral health, the market is always available for companies to simplify the process for the average consumer.

Now, a new prototype of a toothpaste designed to specifically identify plaque buildup is in its testing stages, with experimental groups reporting successful results. The toothpaste in question, Plaque HD®, identifies and reveals plaque present on teeth, which directed brushing can then remove. The trials produced a statistically significant improvement in plaque levels and overall body inflammation, including a decreased risk of heart disease (which bad oral hygiene has consistently been linked to).

Oral medicine scientists from the Melbourne University have come up a vaccine that could negate or at least decrease the need for operations and antibiotic use in the treatment of severe gum disease. The project proponents from the institution’s Oral Health CRC have been working on the initiative for the past fifteen years. They intend to bring their methodology into the market by 2018, to most importantly cater for periodontitis patients across the globe. The periodontitis ailing often plagues the teeth’s supportive gum tissue and bone, resulting in tooth loss. In Australia alone, it’s affecting more than 50 percent of the population above age 65.

Published at the journal NPJ Vaccines, the undertaking also features analysis of the vaccine’s effectiveness by dentistry specialists from the Cambridge University. It specifically targets the enzymes produced by the bacterium Porphyromonasgingivalis, to in turn initiate an immune response. The occurrence further oversees the production of antibodies which nullify the pathogen’s destructive toxins. Eric Reynolds, CEO of Oral Health CRC, notes that the current surgery and antibiotic methodologies are helpful; though a bit ineffective since in most scenarios, the bacterium recapitulates, further causing the microbiological imbalance that facilitates continual of the disease.

A new research project from Romania’s National Institute of Isotopic and Molecular Technologies has revealed that Graphene Oxide can produce super strong dental fillings that do not corrode. Fillings are normally made of metals such as mercury, silver and copper, which are coupled with mixtures of powdered ceramic and glass. These typical compounds are relatively weak with regard to structure, plus they can corrode and turn into detrimental toxins to the oral environs.

Dr. StelaPruneanu, co-author of the undertaking, mentions the main motive behind the study, which is integrating graphene into dental materials to in turn facilitate increased resistance to corrosion and improved mechanical attributes. The aggregate takes the form of either graphene oxide, nitrogen doped graphene or thermally reduced graphene oxide. By using samples of stem cells found around the teeth, the research team investigated the cytotoxicity of the material in its three different elements. Thermally graphene resulted in membrane damage and was therefore deemed inconsiderable as a dental filling matter. Nitrogen doped graphine was slightly toxic in large doses, but also displayed anti-oxidant characteristics which could be used in covering the teeth’s protective layer. Graphine oxide on the other hand proved to be ideal the ideal candidate as it exhibited the least toxicity.

Oral medication specialists have come up with computer simulations demonstrating how lasers attack bacterial colonies, advocating for the approach to further enhance oral debridement and promote improved dental care.

Published at the journal Lasers in Surgery and Medicine, the project specialists have shown how various laser wavelengths can cater to virtual bacterial colonies harbored deep in gum tissue. In humans, the actual disease-forming micro-organisms are to known for cause gum inflammation and gingivitis. The latter has proved quite detrimental as it develops into a more dire infection that cracks down the bones and tissues supporting the teeth. Co-author Lou Reinisch, Ph.D., associate provost for academic affairs at New York Institute of Technology, mentions that the undertaking validates the methodology in periodontal medication.

Reinisch, an expert in laser surgery, utilized a multidisciplinary methodology wherein he combined calculus, physics and optics, to come up with mathematical models conforming to oral tissue attributes. He then generated three different typologies with regard to the impact on various gum sizes and depth.